Falcon ROV Helps Japan Harness Offshore Wind

Posted by Eric Haun

Friday, August 22, 2014

Workboat deploying the Falcon ROV to check the integrity of floating turbine moorings off the coast of Japan

After Japan’s 50 nuclear reactors closed following the Fukushima disaster, wind is now seen as an important alternative energy source. But in a crowded and mountainous country the search for sites must go offshore, with floating turbines the main option in the deep waters off the rugged coastline.It is at the southernmost tip of Japan that the Ministry of the Environment is trialing a turbine to determine the viability of floating wind turbines, in a bid to help replace the 30% of energy lost since the nuclear shut-down.

Sure-footed anchorage to the seabed is vital in such a vulnerable environment and a Saab Seaeye Falcon ROV is being used to check the integrity of the 400 meters of chain to mooring points 100 meters down.

With many turbines to be installed at a depth of 100 meters or more, setting the anchor securely is vital for the safe location of these turbines offshore. Avoiding twists and entanglements of the 400 meter lengths of chain over a long period of time is also of vital importance, said the research experiment group of the project.

The Falcon, operated by Shibuya Diving, helped monitor the anchor holding test, and the analysis of anchor drag, as well as twist and entanglement. Shibuya Diving chose the Falcon because it could be deployed from a small workboat at a low operating cost and has a proven reputation amongst many different operators across the world for undertaking a wide variety of tasks.

It is small and easily manhandled, yet has the power to cope with strong currents around the anchorage whilst loaded with the hefty high-definition camera needed for the task. Although compact, the Falcon is renowned for performing precise work whilst carrying a heavy payload of cameras, sensors, sonar systems and manipulators. It is also packed with advanced intelligent technology usually found in much larger underwater vehicles.

With more offshore turbine installations planned, Shibuya Diving intend developing a special work vessel from which to operate the Falcon.

The system was sold by Oceanvision of Singapore with further training support from Japanese-speaking, California-based Symphotic

seaeye.com

Falcon - small enough to be manhandled, yet can be fitted with a heavy pay-load of cameras and sensing equipment